More required of today's soldiers, but less given in return

Those of us who served in Vietnam knew that if we could survive for one year in the "Nam," we would never be forced to return. We could return home to our civilian jobs and put the war behind us.

The valiant men and women who have served in Afghanistan or Iraq face far different prospects. By serving multiple tours in these war zones, sometimes as many as six or seven deployments, their chances of returning home without being injured or killed were far less likely. Also, knowing only war for so long, their chances of gaining meaningful civilian employment were problematic. Their futures appear bleak.

As many as 48,000 Iraq and Afghanistan veterans either are homeless or otherwise face hopeless futures. The measure of the humanity of a country is the way it treats those who have valiantly sacrificed life and limb for mostly unappreciative citizens.

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More required of today's soldiers, but less given in return

Those of us who served in Vietnam knew that if we could survive for one year in the ?Nam,? we would never be forced to return. The valiant men and women who have served in Afghanistan or Iraq face